South Yarra have rounded out their debut WPL season in the best possible fashion, with a 2-0 victory over Box Hill on Saturday afternoon at Fawkner Park.
In cold, windy, and rainy conditions, two first-half goals were enough to ensure the hosts finished their campaign on a bright note.
It was Box Hill, however, who began the brighter of the two sides, and South Yarra had their keeper Claire Imray to thank for ensuring they weren’t trailing early.
With 11 minutes played, the custodian had to be at her best to deny Melanie Camilleri, whose shot was destined for the top right corner if not for Imray’s diving save.
It was a similar story four minutes after, as Imray again denied Camilleri at full stretch, parrying a strike away for the bottom right corner.
Madeline Richardson was the next to test Imray, but her drive from 25 yards was well held.
The opening goal came slightly against the run of play, with Eliza Meallin the creator, making a decisive run down the left wing into the box, before putting an inch-perfect cutback into the six-yard area for Hannah Charman, who tapped in home past Madeline Webster.
Two minutes later, Yarra had doubled their lead.
It was a special goal from Katherine Foster, who controlled a bouncing ball 20-yards out, before pivoting, and volleying stunningly over Webster, into the net.
Yarra were now the dominant team, and could have gone three up in the shadows of half time.
A stunning team move began saw Foster play in Meallin, her flick finding Charman, but Webster stuck out a leg to save smartly.
The second half began slowly, but saw Webster replaced in goal by Elise Kyrigos, the keeper’ unable to shake off an injury suffered whilst taking a first half goal kick.
South Yarra seemed content to counter attack, but created little in the half, as Box Hill looked to get back into the game.
Camilleri had one of their best chances on 65 minutes, picked out by Amore on the edge of the box, but she wasted the shot, curling it wide despite having time and space.
Box hill hit the crossbar through a Selena Karlson header on 80 minutes, but that was as close as they would get.
South Yarra saw out the match, to gain a rare win, ending their WPL campaign in the best possible fashion.
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South Yarra 2 (Charman 32’, Foster 35’) defeated Box Hill United 0 at Fawkner Park [HT: 2-0]
South Yarra: 1: Claire IMRAY (GK), 2: Megan CORKIN, 3: Madeline JONA, 4: Samantha TIGHE, 5: Sarah DASH, 10: Aoife MURPHY (14: Jennifer WESTHAVEN 57’), 23: Eliza MEALLIN (13: Gretel TEMPLETON 81’), 6: Hannah CHARMAN, 9: Marcela MARQUES, 8: Priscilla RIBAS, 11: Katherine FOSTER (15: Hayley WALILINSHAN 57’)
Unused Substitute(s): 12: Lauren Hughes, 66: Sharon Walsh
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
Box Hill: 1: Maddie WEBSTER (GK), 5: Sarah WALSH, 7: Alexandra AMORE, 4: Madeline RICHARDSON, 14: Rachel TOOSE 21: Lobo ANJALI 84’), 3: Elise KYRIGOS, 16: Demitra KALLANIS (25’ Lourdes ANTHONY 67’), 18: Annie REMMAN (2: Georgia MARKL 52’) 15: Hayley GUERTS, 23: Melanie CAMILLERI (12: Selena KARLSON 67’) , 9: Elaina VATCKY
Unused Substitute(s): 32:Penny BAKOPOLOUS
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil